Estimation of the current structural reliability level of existing railway bridges and viaducts

Anna M. Rakoczy; Aleksandra Jivan-Coteti

doi:10.7409/rabdim.021.017

Received: 2021-05-07
Accepted: 2021-07-05
Published: 2021-09-30

Vol. 20 No. 3 (2021)

Estimation of the current structural reliability level of existing railway bridges and viaducts

Anna M. Rakoczy

, Aleksandra Jivan-Coteti

Section: Articles

https://doi.org/10.7409/rabdim.021.017

Abstract

The problem with the degradation process of railway bridges is becoming a significant issue in almost all European countries. Forecasting the fitness for service of railway engineering structures, designed according to the load models applicable at the time of their design, and currently used in new operating conditions of increased axle load (up to 25 tons per axle) and speed of freight trains (up to 120 km / h), is crucial when making management decisions. Therefore, it is extremely important to develop an algorithm that determines the reliability level of the structural capacity of existing (aging) railway bridges and viaducts under current and future operating conditions. The current procedures for assessing railway bridges and viaducts for their continued operation do not account for the variability of applied loads and parameters of the resistance of the structure. Simplified calculations and conservative assumptions often lead to an incorrect assessment that indicates older structures ceased to be functional decades ago. This article presents a probabilistic method used for the evaluation of the existing railway bridges and viaducts in terms of their continued safe operation. The approach determines the probability of a failure (safety level) and the risk of the consequences associated with the failure.

Keywords:

operational loads, probabilistic method, railway bridges, reliability index, rolling stock loads.

Most read articles by the same author(s)

Janusz Rymsza, Anna M. Rakoczy, Guidelines for determining load and actions on historic railway bridges , Roads and Bridges – Drogi i Mosty: Vol. 20 No. 3 (2021)

Download files

PDF

Citation rules

Rakoczy, A. M., & Jivan-Coteti, A. (2021). Estimation of the current structural reliability level of existing railway bridges and viaducts. Roads and Bridges – Drogi I Mosty, 20(3), 289–309. https://doi.org/10.7409/rabdim.021.017

Cited by / Share

Licence

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

References

Olofsson J., Elfgren L., Bell B., Paulsson B., Niederleithinger E., Jensen J.S., Feltrin G., Täljsten B., Cremona C., Kiviluoma R., Bień J.: Assessment of European Railway Bridges for Future Traffic Demands and Longer Lives – EC Project “Sustainable Bridges”. Journal of Structure and Infrastructure Engineering, 1, 2, 2005, 93-100, DOI: 10.1080/15732470412331289396 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15732470412331289396
Google Scholar

Bujňák J., Gocál J., Hlinka R.: Assessment of Railway Steel Bridge Structures. Procedia Engineering, 156, 2016, 75-82, DOI: 10.1016/j.proeng.2016.08.270 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2016.08.270
Google Scholar

Honfi D., Björnsson I., Ivanov O.L., Leander J.: Informed successive condition assessments in bridge maintenance. Journal of Civil Structural Health Monitoring, 10, 2020, 729-737, DOI: 10.1007/s13349-020-00415-2 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13349-020-00415-2
Google Scholar

Bień J., Gladysz-Bień M.: Multi-level Classification of Bridge Defects in Asset Management. Conference paper of IABSE Symposium 2019 Guimăres “Towards a Resilient Built Environment Risk and Asset Management”, 27-29 March 2019, Guimăres, Portugal, 1100-1107, DOI: 10.2749/guimaraes.2019.1100 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2749/guimaraes.2019.1100
Google Scholar

Trochymiak W., Mossakowski P., Oleszek R.: Analiza nośności eksploatacyjnej kolejowego obiektu inżynieryjnego. Logistyka, 4, 2015, CD2, 6254-6263
Google Scholar

Honfi D., Leander J., Björnsson I., Larsson Ivanov O.: A practical approach for supporting decisions in bridge condition assessment and monitoring. Proceedings of the 20th IABSE Congress “The Evolving Metropolis”, International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering, 2019, 2137-2142 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2749/newyork.2019.2136
Google Scholar

Casas J.R.: Updated inventory on condition assessment procedures for bridges. Sustainable Bridges, Background document SB3.2. Sixth Framework Programme, European Commission, 2007, 1-63, http://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1330651/ FULLTEXT01.pdf (06.06.2021)
Google Scholar

Casas J.R., Karoumi R., Plos M., Cremona C.: Guideline for load and resistance assessment of existing European railway bridges., Sustainable Bridges, Sixth Framework Programme, European Commission, 2008, 1-428, https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1328606/FULLTEXT01.pdf (06.06.2021)
Google Scholar

DelGrego M.R., Culmo M.P., DeWolf J.T.: Performance Evaluation through Field Testing of Century-Old Railroad Truss Bridge. Journal of Bridge Engineering, 13, 2, 2008, DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)1084-0702(2008)13:2(132) DOI: https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1084-0702(2008)13:2(132)
Google Scholar

Cremona C., Eichler B., Johansson B., Larrson T.: Improved Assessment Methods for Static and Fatigue Resistance of Old Metallic Railway Bridges. Journal of Bridge Engineering, 18, 11, 2013, DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)BE.1943-5592.0000466 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)BE.1943-5592.0000466
Google Scholar

Zobel H., Zbiciak A., Oleszek R., Michalczyk R., Mossa- kowski P.: Numerical identification of the dynamic characteristics of a steel-concrete railway bridge. Roads and Bridges - Drogi i Mosty, 13, 3, 2014, 275-301, DOI: 10.7409/rabdim.014.018 DOI: https://doi.org/10.7409/rabdim.014.018
Google Scholar

Wichtowski B.: Load-carrying capacity of steel railway bridges of the second half of xix century - discussion. Roads and Bridges - Drogi i Mosty, 13, 3, 2014, 261-269, DOI: 10.7409/rabdim.014.017 DOI: https://doi.org/10.7409/rabdim.014.017
Google Scholar

Woodward R.J.: BRIME (Bridge Management in Europe), Final Report, March 2001, 1-227, https://trimis.ec.europa.eu/sites/default/files/project/documents/brimerep.pdf (06.07.2021)
Google Scholar

Adey B., Bailey S., Das P., O’Brien E.J., González A., et al.: Procedures Required for the Assessment of Highway Structures, Numerical Techniques for Safety and Serviceability Assessment. Report of Working Groups 4 and 5. COST 345, European Cooperation in the Field of Scientific and Technical Research, Brussels, 2004, 1-121, http://hdl.handle.net/10197/9885 (15.06.2021)
Google Scholar

Rakoczy A.M., Nowak A.S.: Reliability-Based Strength Limit State for Steel Railway Bridge. Structure and Infrastructure Engineering, 10, 9, 2013, 1248-1261, DOI: 10.1080/15732479.2013.807291 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15732479.2013.807291
Google Scholar

Casas J.R., Wisniewski D.: Safety requirements and probabilistic models of resistance in the assessment of existing railway bridges. Structure and Infrastructure Engineering, 9, 6, 2013, 529-545, DOI: 10.1080/15732479.2011.581673 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15732479.2011.581673
Google Scholar

Pozzi M., Zonta D., Wang W., Chen G.: A framework for evaluating the impact of structural health monitoring on bridge management. In: Bridge Maintenance, Safety, Management and Life-Cycle Optimization. Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Bridge Maintenance, Safety and Management, CRC Press, Philadelphia, USA, 2010, 161-162 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1201/b10430-91
Google Scholar

Ang A.H.S., Tang W.H.: Probability Concepts in Engineering, Emphasis on Application to Civil Engineering and Environmental Engineering. John Wiley & Sons Inc., 2006, USA, 432p
Google Scholar

Ayyub B.M., McCuen R.H.: Probability, Statistics and Reliability for Engineers. CRC Press, 2016 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1201/b12161
Google Scholar

Nowak A.S., Collins K.R.: Reliability of Structures, 2nd Edition. CRC Press, 2013, 407p DOI: https://doi.org/10.1201/b12913
Google Scholar

Ghosn M., Frangopol D., McAllister T., Shah M., Diniz S., Ellingwood B., Manuel L., Biondini F., Catbas N., Strauss A., Zhao Z.: Reliability-based structural performance indicators for structural members. Journal of Structural Engineering, 142, 9, 2016, online, DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)ST.1943-541X.0001546 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)ST.1943-541X.0001546
Google Scholar

Wiśniewski D.F., Casas J.R., Ghosn M.: Codes for safety assessment of existing bridges - Current state and further development. Structural Engineering International, 22, 4, 2012, 552-561, DOI: 10.2749/101686612X13363929517857 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2749/101686612X13363929517857
Google Scholar

Woodward R.J., et. al.: Deliverable D10 - Guidelines for assessing load carrying capacity. Bridge Management in Europe (BRIME) - IV FP of EC, Brussels, 2001, https://trimis.ec.europa.eu/sites/default/files/project/documents/brimerep.pdf (06.07.2021)
Google Scholar

Denarié E., .Richardson M., Woodward R., Žnidarič A.: SAMARIS STRUCTURES, State of the art report on assessment of structures in selected EEA and CE countries - Deliverable D19, Sustainable and Advanced Materials for Road Infrastructures - V FP of EC, Brussels, 2006, http://samaris.zag.si/documents/sam_st_ot01.pps (06.07.2021)
Google Scholar

Sustainable Bridges - SB9.2. Overall project guide. Assessment for Future Traffic Demands and Longer Lives. VI FP of EC, Brussels, 2007, http://www.diva-portal.se/smash/get/diva2: 1330524/FULLTEXT01.pdf, (15.06.2021)
Google Scholar

Sustainable Bridges - SB-LRA. Guideline for load and resistance assessment of railway bridges. Advices on the use of advanced methods. VI FP of EC, Brussels, 2007, https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1328606/FULLTEXT01.pdf (15.06.2021)
Google Scholar

EU FP6 - ARCHES Deliverable D16: Recommendation on the use of soft, diagnostic and proof load testing. Assessment and Rehabilitation of Central European Highway Structures. Brussels, 2009, http://arches.fehrl.org/?m=7&id_directory=1658 (15.05.2021)
Google Scholar

EU FP6 - ARCHES Deliverable D08: Recommendations on the use of results of monitoring on bridge safety assessment and maintenance. Assessment and Rehabilitation of Central European Highway Structures, Brussels, 2009,.https://researchrepository.ucd.ie/handle/10197/10134 (15.06.2021)
Google Scholar

EU FP6 - ARCHES Deliverable D10: Recommendations on dynamic amplification allowance. Assessment and Rehabilitation of Central European Highway Structures, Brussels, 2009, http://arches.fehrl.org/?m=7&id_directory=1617 (15.06.2021)
Google Scholar

IRS 70778-2: Recommendations for determining the carrying capacity and fatigue risks of existing metallic railway bridges. UIC - International Union of Railways, 2020
Google Scholar

Vican J., Odrobinak J., Kotes P.: Determination of Load- -Carrying Capacity of Railway Steel and Concrete Composite Bridges. Key Engineering Materials, 691, 2016, 172-184, DOI: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.691.172 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.691.172
Google Scholar

Pregnolato M.: Bridge safety is not for granted – A novel approach to bridge management. Engineering Structures, 196, 2019, 109193, DOI: 10.1016/j.engstruct.2019.05.035 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2019.05.035
Google Scholar

ISO 13822:2010 Bases for design of structures – Assessment of existing structures
Google Scholar

Schneider J.: Introduction to safety and reliability of structures. International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering, series: Structural engineering documents, no. 5, Zurich, 1997, 138p, http://worldcat.org/isbn/3857480936 (15.06.2021)
Google Scholar

Rücker W., Hille F., Rohrmann R.: Guideline for the Assessment of Existing Structures, F08a. SAMCO Final Report 2006, Berlin, Germany, http://www.samco.org/network/ download_area/ass_guide.pdf (15.06.2021)
Google Scholar

Szeliga E.: Eurokod – Podstawy projektowania konstrukcji, Wszystko co chcielibyśmy wiedzieć ale boimy się zapytać - cz. I. Inżynier Budownictwa, 87, 9, 2011, 34-37
Google Scholar

Rozporządzenie Komisji (UE) Nr 1299/2014 z dnia 18 listopada 2014 r. dotyczące technicznych specyfikacji interoperacyjności podsystemu „Infrastruktura” systemu kolei w Unii Europejskiej. Dziennik Urzędowy Unii Europejskiej, 12.12.2014
Google Scholar

PN-EN 1990:2004. Eurocode: Podstawy projektowania konstrukcji
Google Scholar

PN-EN 1991-2:2007 Eurocode 1: Oddziaływanie na konstrukcje. Część 2: Obciążenia ruchome mostów
Google Scholar

PN-EN 15528:2015 Kolejnictwo – Klasyfikacja linii w odniesieniu do oddziaływań pomiędzy obciążeniami granicznymi pojazdów szynowych a infrastrukturą
Google Scholar

Instrukcja utrzymania kolejowych obiektów inżynieryjnych na liniach kolejowych do prędkości 200/250 km/h. PKP PLK SA, 2014, 153p
Google Scholar

Kotes P., Vican J.: Reliability levels and partial safety factors according to Eurocodes for evaluation of existing bridges. Procedia Engineering, 40, 2012, 211-216, DOI: 10.1016/j.proeng.2012.07.082 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2012.07.082
Google Scholar

Rymsza J., Rakoczy A.M.: Guidelines for determining load and actions on historic railway bridges. Road and Bridges - Drogi i Mosty, 20, 3, 2021, 217-237, DOI: 10.7409/rabdim.021.013 DOI: https://doi.org/10.7409/rabdim.021.013
Google Scholar

Czarnecki A.A., Nowak A.S.: Reliability-based evaluation of steel girder bridges. Bridge Engineering, 160, 1, 2007, 9-15, DOI: 10.1680/bren.2007.160.1.9 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1680/bren.2007.160.1.9
Google Scholar

Anna M. Rakoczy

arakoczy@ibdim.edu.pl
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1208-5729

Affiliation:

Road and Bridge Research Institute, 1 Instytutowa St., 03-302 Warsaw Poland

Aleksandra Jivan-Coteti

Affiliation:

Road and Bridge Research Institute, 1 Instytutowa St., 03-302 Warsaw Poland

Estimation of the current structural reliability level of existing railway bridges and viaducts

Abstract

Keywords:

Most read articles by the same author(s)

Downloads

Anna M. Rakoczy

Aleksandra Jivan-Coteti